Louisiana State Master Plan for Coastal Protection and Restoration

Louisiana State Master Plan for Coastal Protection and Restoration
Name	Louisiana State Master Plan for Coastal Protection and Restoration
Jurisdiction	Louisiana
Formed	2007
Chief1 name	Governor of Louisiana
Parent agency	Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana

Louisiana State Master Plan for Coastal Protection and Restoration is a statewide strategic framework for reducing flood risk and restoring wetlands across Louisiana's coast. The Plan integrates engineering, natural resource restoration, and community resilience to address subsidence, sea level rise, and storm surge affecting regions such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Mississippi River Delta. It coordinates actions among agencies including the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and federal partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Background and Purpose

The Master Plan arose after catastrophic impacts from Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and Hurricane Gustav exposed vulnerabilities in coastal protection, prompting legislative action by the Louisiana State Legislature and executive direction from the Governor of Louisiana. Rooted in earlier efforts like the Comprehensive Coastal Protection and Restoration Plan (2007) and informed by science from institutions such as Louisiana State University, Tulane University, and the University of New Orleans, the Plan seeks to slow land loss across the Mississippi River Delta, the Atchafalaya Basin, and barrier islands like Grand Isle. It aligns with national initiatives including the National Coastal Zone Management Program and international guidance exemplified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Development and Planning Process

Development relied on multidisciplinary collaboration among state agencies, federal partners like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, academic experts from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology participating in advisory roles, and stakeholders including parish governments such as Orleans Parish and Plaquemines Parish. The planning process used data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and modelling by the U.S. Geological Survey, integrating scenarios from the National Climate Assessment and projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Public outreach involved communities in St. Bernard Parish, Jefferson Parish, and tribal entities such as the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana. Legal frameworks included statutes enacted by the Louisiana Legislature and coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Key Components and Projects

The Plan combines structural defenses, ecosystem restoration, and risk reduction measures. Major components include levee improvements in the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, sediment diversions on the Mississippi River, marsh creation projects in the Barataria Basin, and barrier island restoration at Chandeleur Islands and Grand Isle. Projects incorporate coastal features such as the Atchafalaya River, tidal wetlands, and barrier shorelines, and involve contractors and partners including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Specific projects reference navigation and flood control infrastructure like the Bonnet Carré Spillway and restoration initiatives supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Funding and Governance

Funding streams combine state revenue sources, bond measures overseen by the Louisiana State Bond Commission, and federal appropriations from agencies such as the Department of the Interior and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Post-disaster funds from programs like the Community Development Block Grant program and settlements from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill legal actions administered through the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund have been allocated. Governance is centralized in the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana with oversight from the Governor of Louisiana and coordination with parish entities like Plaquemines Parish Government and Jefferson Parish Government.

Environmental and Economic Impacts

Environmental aims target reversing wetland loss, enhancing habitats for species such as the Louisiana black bear and migratory birds on the Mississippi Flyway, and improving fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico for communities reliant on crab, shrimp, and oyster industries tied to ports like the Port of New Orleans and Port Fourchon. Economically, the Plan seeks to protect urban centers including New Orleans and Baton Rouge, energy infrastructure in the Gulf Coast, and supply chains connected to the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port. Analyses by entities like the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Congressional Budget Office consider cost-benefit ratios, ecosystem services valuation, and impacts on industries such as tourism in Plaquemines Parish and commercial fisheries.

Implementation, Monitoring, and Adaptation

Implementation follows iterative five-year cycles with monitoring by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana, performance tracking using remote sensing from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and field surveys by the U.S. Geological Survey. Adaptive management incorporates new scientific findings from laboratories at Louisiana State University, scenario updates from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and post-event assessments after storms like Hurricane Ida. Project delivery leverages construction and engineering firms, coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for major civil works, and grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for habitat projects.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics including environmental groups such as Sierra Club chapters and legal actions by coastal landowners have raised concerns about sediment diversion impacts on fisheries, cultural resources, and communities in areas like the Lower Ninth Ward and Plaquemines Parish. Debates involve trade-offs between riverine sediment diversions and navigation interests represented by the American Waterways Operators and port authorities like Port of South Louisiana. Scholars from institutions including Louisiana State University and Tulane University have questioned cost estimates, equity of benefits across parishes, and long-term efficacy under high-end sea level rise scenarios presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Litigation and legislative disputes have involved the Louisiana State Legislature and federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Category:Coastal management in the United States Category:Louisiana geography Category:Environmental policy of the United States